The Worst TV Comedies of All Time

Among the great quality comedy TV that audiences have been blessed with in recent years — from “Seinfeld” and “The Office” to “Veep” and “Orange Is the New Black” — there have been some veritable flops that have slipped through the cracks. Try as they may to deliver the knee-slapping, tear-inducing jokes and witty one-liners of their funnier counterparts, they just can’t tickle audiences’ funny bones.

PrettyFamous, an entertainment data site by Graphiq, determined the worst TV comedies. To find these rotten apples, PrettyFamous looked at all TV shows with at least 2,500 IMDb votes that are categorized as comedies, including some shows that are no longer on the air. They then ranked these comedies according to their Smart Rating. This a score out of 100 that takes into account a show’s IMDb votes, IMDb rating and the number of Emmy awards won.

Note that this ranking contains comedy dramas, musical comedies and more. Prank shows and talent-type game shows were also considered. PrettyFamous did not take into account children’s shows or sitcoms, as they have a separate ranking specific to sitcoms. Plot descriptions were sourced (with minor edits) by Gracenote.

#25. “Celebrity Deathmatch”

A favorite of MTV viewers, “Celebrity Deathmatch” features clay-animated versions of really annoying, but in many cases popular, celebrities who have at it in a boxing ring. But these are not your ordinary boxing matches. Most matches end in death, hence the show’s title. Sometimes seeing people get beat up — even in effigy — can be fun.

#24. “The Sarah Silverman Program”

Told through an array of scripted scenes (and songs), this fictionalized take on comedian Sarah Silverman’s daily life finds the title character falling into sometimes bizarre but usually hilarious predicaments — all with her sister (played by her real sibling), her nerdy gay neighbors and a colorful police officer never far from her side.

#23. “Trophy Wife”

Reformed party girl Kate hopes that the third time is the charm when she becomes Pete’s next bride. A year after literally falling into his arms at a karaoke bar, she now has an instant family of three stepchildren and Pete’s two ex-wives. Diane, the first one, is an intense overachiever who is quick to convey disapproval of Kate’s spare maternal instinct. Jackie, the second one, is neurotic but adept at pulling Pete’s strings. Kate turns to her friend Meg for support, but Meg is single and has even less experience with kids.

#22. “Jack & Jill”

Jilted at the altar and sick of pleasing everybody but herself, Jacqueline “Jack” Barrett moves in with a dancer in New York, finds a job interning at a news station and inadvertently steals her office mate’s boyfriend. Or not. David “Jill” Jillefsky is a toy designer who’s conflicted about taking the next step with his longtime girlfriend when he meets Jack moving into his apartment building. Jack and Jill become romantically involved as they both face major obstacles in their current relationships.

#21. “The Game”

While their men try to hone their gridiron talents on the field, the wives and girlfriends of pro football players sharpen their own skills behind the scenes when it comes to the power plays they have to use to get their guys the best agents, the best endorsements, the best merchandising deals — even the “in” charity. And then there’s the groupies around every corner, and the oh-so-helpful “image consultants” ready and eager to perform a makeover for any player in trouble.

#20. “Rake”

Keegan Deane is a brilliant and charming defense lawyer — and a self-destructive addict. With zero filter, unyielding optimism and a passion for defending those beyond redemption, he lands court cases that no one else wants. Keegan gets the majority of them from best friend Ben, who is married to Los Angeles ADA Scarlet. While Scarlet is also Keegan’s old friend, she is often his opponent in court. In addition to his work, he faces trials and tribulations in life. While dealing with an ex-wife and a hormonal son, Keegan juggles affairs with women, an IRS battle and growing debt to a bookie.

#19. “Easy”

From director and creator Joe Swanberg, this Netflix-original comedy anthology series explores diverse Chicago characters, modern romance technology and culture. Scenarios include a married couple hoping to reignite their sex life, a couple looking to spice things up with another woman and middle-aged dating. The series features an impressive array of stars, including Jake Johnson of “New Girl,” comic Hannibal Buress, actor Orlando Bloom, actress/model Emily Ratajkowski and actor Dave Franco.

#18. “Web Therapy”

Lisa Kudrow stars in this part-scripted, part-improvised comedy series about a self-professed psychotherapist with little patience for her patients. Dr. Fiona Wallice, who has no discernible training, doesn’t believe in the traditional 50-minute sessions most therapists have with their patients. She prefers to meet with her clients in weekly three-minute sessions, through an online webcam. Even in the short sessions, Wallice spends more time feigning boredom and interrupting than listening to the patient’s issues. A number of well-known actors, including Jane Lynch (“Glee”), guest star on the show as Wallice’s patients.

#17. “Kroll Show”

The many offbeat and eccentric characters created by Nick Kroll are showcased in this sketch comedy/pop culture series. Kroll, who has starred in his own Comedy Central stand-up specials as well as appeared in sitcoms “The League,” “Parks and Recreation” and “Childrens Hospital,” among others, performs alongside guest actors and comedians — a roster that includes Fred Armisen, Tess Broussard, Jon Daly, Kathryn Hahn, Ed Helms, Rob Huebel and Chelsea Peretti — in each “Kroll Show” episode, and viewers can expect Kroll’s irreverent take on pop culture topics like the internet, pro sports, nightlife and television.

#15. “The PJs”

Thurgood Stubbs lives with his wife, Muriel, in the Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs housing project, where he is the superintendent. This animated comedy follows the adventures of the Subbs and their friends, while taking a satirical view of the ups and downs of life in a big-city housing project.

#14. “Lipstick Jungle”

This sleek dramedy revolves around a Manhattan trio of alpha females who forge tight friendships while trying to balance their personal and professional lives. Fashion magazine editor Nico has her eye on her boss’s job as the company CEO while feeling guilty about her affair with younger photographer Kirby; movie executive Wendy feels conflicted that her job prevents quality family time; and Victory is struggling to get her career as a fashion designer back on track while looking for a new boyfriend after her fling with a New York tycoon craters.

#13. “Doogie Howser, M.D.”

Long before Neil Patrick Harris portrayed the skirt-chasing Barney Stinson in “How I Met Your Mother,” he was a favorite of TV audiences as medical prodigy Dr. Douglas “Doogie” Howser in this comedy-drama. Created by Steven Bochco and David E. Kelley, the series follows Doogie’s daily trials and travails at work, the problems that come along with the notoriety as the country’s youngest surgeon and his personal life as a regular teenager who just wants to borrow his dad’s car to take his girlfriend out on a date. When he’s not tackling social issues of the day or butting heads with his stern but wise father, Dr. David Howser (James B. Sikking), Doogie pals around with window-entering best bud Vinnie Delpino (Max Casella) and always finds time to post select tidbits of wisdom into his computer journal.

#12. “Super Fun Night”

For more than a decade, three best friends — Kimmie, Helen-Alice and Marika — have scheduled a night of fun together every Friday. When Kimmie, a junior attorney, gets a promotion, it opens up her world but throws a wrench into their tradition. As her social circle grows to include her crush, Richard, and her ice-queen frenemy, Kendall, Kimmie works to bridge her past and future by encouraging Helen-Alice and Marika to join her out in the world — while still remaining true to her quirky self.

#11. “Chelsea Lately”

Comic Chelsea Handler presents an irreverent look at breaking news stories, along with gossip and her take on pop culture. Celebrity interviews, viewer call-ins and a roundtable of celebrities who discuss current events round out the half hour in this late-night talk show.

#10. “Haters Back Off”

This comedy series, exclusive to Netflix, follows the oddball family life of a fictional YouTube star named Miranda Sings, a character created and portrayed by Colleen Ballinger, who also serves as an executive producer. Miranda is an incredibly confident, self-absorbed teenage singer/dancer/actor/model who is on the rise — despite a complete and utter lack of talent. Miranda continues to luck into failing upward, fueled by her belief that she was born to be famous, even if no one else knows it yet.

#9. “Saved by the Bell: The College Years”

Follow favorite “Saved by the Bell” students Zack, Slater, Screech and Kelly in their freshmen year at California University. This spin-off from the Saturday morning show picks up where the high school show left off. Romances, drama and lessons about friendship and growing up continue to be the focus of the show. Zack and Kelly may finally end up planning a wedding. Slater and new character Alex also share some romance.

#7. “Punk’d”

Co-creator Ashton Kutcher sets into motion elaborate pranks aimed at Hollywood stars and other celebs. Among the bigwigs who have been “punk’d” are Frankie Muniz (the show’s very first victim), Katie Holmes, Nick Lachey, Halle Berry, Justin Timberlake, Serena Williams, Zach Braff, Andy Roddick, Beyonce and Hugh Jackman. Kutcher hosted the show from its 2003 beginning to its supposed end in 2007, but five years later “Punk’d” returned with a different celebrity host each week, including Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, Bam Margera and Dax Shepard, who take the pranks to a whole new level. The fresher episodes also give viewers an inside look at how the elaborate pranks are set up.

#5. “Dads”

Since becoming best friends during childhood, Eli and Warner have grown up to be successful co-founders of a video game company — an idea they formed in college. While Warner is married with two kids, two dogs and beautiful home, Eli is a stoner and a constant bundle of nerves, despite his success. Complications arise when Eli and Warren’s fathers invade their lives. Crawford moves in with son Warner and his hotheaded wife, Camila, and Eli’s cheap-and-cranky patriarch, David, turns to his son after falling on hard times. Passive-aggressive behavior and dubious schemes are just some of the challenges Eli and Warner face as they try to adjust to their new living arrangements.

#4. “Allen Gregory”

Pretentious 7-year-old Allen Gregory De Longpre (Jonah Hill) doesn’t see himself as a child but as an intelligent and worldly young man. He lives in a loft — with his father, Richard, Richard’s partner Jeremy and his adopted Cambodian sister, Julie — where his father has home-schooled him. But now, Allen Gregory must leave the nest to attend elementary school and deal with the challenges of relating to kids his own age and teachers who don’t understand that he is more than the child he appears to be.

#2. “The Inbetweeners”

Those who remember the awkward years of adolescence can relive those painful days in this comedy series, where the cringe-inducing humor arises from the ill-fated antics of its four protagonists. Teenage friends Will, Simon, Jay and Neil attempt to navigate the social scene, attract members of the gentler sex and saunter among the cool crowd in high school. However, despite their best efforts, the four hapless lads usually end up “inbetween,” mocking one another. “The Inbetweeners” is based on the award-winning British series and was adapted for the U.S. by Brad Copeland (“Arrested Development,” “My Name Is Earl”).

#1. “Mind of Mencia”

This sketch-variety series, hosted by Honduran-born comic Carlos Mencia, offers a distinctive take on life and its quirks. The show combines commercial parodies, filmed segments on the street and studio bits in a format that is reminiscent of venerable late-night show “Saturday Night Live” and other similar shows that have aired through the years. Episodes of “Mind of Mencia” feature guest appearances by a number of well-known comics, including Dave Attell, Frank Caliendo, Bobby Lee and Daniel Tosh.